Friday Night Social League Coming This Summer

Three summers ago, Michael O’Neill joined a USTA St. Louis Friday night league for a fun, social and competitive tennis experience. Now in his second year running that very league, O’Neill is encouraging others to do what he did and join in on the action.

O’Neill — who splits his full-time work as a tennis teaching pro at Frontenac Racquet Club and Woodsmill Tennis Club — is hoping to take the Adult 18-45 Social League at Shaw Park to the next level this summer. After the COVID-19 pandemic presented a litany of logistical challenges last year, O’Neill is ready for the fresh start this go-round.

“This league is about everybody playing two or three times a night and having a lot of fun,” O’Neill said. “Sometimes the best players are sitting; sometimes the best players are on the court. But everybody will get matches. Everybody gets to play. You get to learn the game while having fun but not being stressed out about winning.”

O’Neill said the Adult Social League will kick off May 28 and run through August 13. Matches take place outdoors at Clayton’s Shaw Park, with Chesterfield’s Woodsmill Tennis Club serving as an indoor alternative in case of bad weather.

Matches begin at 6 p.m., and the evening typically wraps up around 9:00 p.m. O’Neill said league participants frequented local restaurants and bars post-match to socialize and keep the good times rolling two years ago. Both men and women between 18-45 are invited to join, and O’Neill emphasized players of all skill levels are welcome. Participants range from beginning/intermediate players to former NCAA Division I competitors.

“You just need to be able to serve the tennis ball, play a point, have a basic knowledge of the game and know how to keep score,” O’Neill said. “Anybody and everybody is welcome to join the league. We’ve had people who just moved to the St. Louis area and are looking for a league. I’ve then seen them playing and really throwing themselves into the community. Other people who have been here their whole lives and have been in tennis forever.”

With about 70 to 80 people competing in the Adult Social League last summer during a COVID year, O’Neill is optimistic the coed league will draw well once again this year. The team-oriented match format features singles and doubles for both genders as well as mixed doubles action. Players of comparable skill levels will be matched up against each other. All matches are one set in length.

Teams consist of six to 10 individuals. Players can sign up as individuals and don’t need a partner or full team to join. O’Neill is planning on revamping the setup this summer so every team is comprised of some beginning, intermediate and advanced players.

“So we can all get to know each other and it’s more of a fun environment as opposed to knock-out, drag-out competitive,” O’Neill said. “This is designed for having fun, getting to know each other and still playing good tennis — a mixture of fun and tennis.”

O’Neill encouraged interested individuals to sign up sooner than later. Those interested can sign up here. He indicated the league needs potential captains to step up and lead a team. Cost to join the Adult Social League is $50 for the entirety of the season. To sign up or for additional information, contact Michael O’Neill via email at: under40@ustastl.com

“It’s a lot of tennis, and it’s a lot of fun,” O’Neill said. “You get to meet between at the low end 70 people, and we’re trying to get up to 100 people if space allows. A lot of people you can socialize with, get to know and have a good time with. We want people playing tennis for two to three hours. We don’t care about the score as much. Everybody is welcome.”